Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling in a Straight Line

John Winters wrote:
...<snip>...
> For example the comment that "....tracking is 80% paddler and 20% boat" can
> easily be disproved. For example, sprint canoes must track straight with
> minimal attention to turning. Thus, the boats are designed to do just that.
> In short, the boat is designed to suit the need. The same principle, when
> applied to sea kayaks, can produce a straight tracking boat that, when
> coupled with a shape that turns easily when heeled, achieves both
> objectives - manoeuvrability and straight tracking. More over, I suspect
> even Clark will agree that some boats are difficult to control and if he
> hasn't yet paddled one I would be happy to point him in the proper
> direction. :-)

John, you seem to be missing the point. First, it does not follow from
Clark's statement that differences in boat design are insignificant.
Quite the contrary. For any given paddler, the difference in performance
between two different models is 100% due to the design (because in this
case we are holding the paddler-related variables constant).  Thus any
given paddler will be much better off in a sprint race paddling a sprint
canoe. Nothing that Clark says contradicts this, and your observations
in no way "disprove" Clark's assertion.  His point is that the variation
in directional stability across different paddler/kayaker combinations
(where we are changing both the paddler and the kayak) is 80% due to
differences in the paddler-related variables. I don't know if his
numbers are correct, but you certainly can't disprove him by asserting
the (rather obvious) point that some boats are easier to control than
others. Nothing he has said implies that all boats are equally easy to
paddle in a straight line.    

You also seem to suggest that Clark is implying that maneuverability is
a variable that cannot be controlled independently of tracking
stiffness. Nothing he has said implies this.  There are, however, limits
to the extent to which tracking and maneuverability can be varied
independently. If you disgree with this, then we could really use your
design talents to design a boat that is as maneuverable as a Dagger
Redline and as stiff-tracking as Seda Glider.

You seem to feel that Clark is dismissing design as unimportant, which
no doubt rubs you (as a designer) the wrong way.  I read Clark's piece
quite differently.  He is not saying that design is irrelevant, he is
simply stating that design is secondary in importance to technique. I
agree with him. Whether or not you agree, you cannot disprove this by
pointing out that there are significant differences between designs.    
  
Dan Hagen
Bellingham, Washington
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